Thrash Talk: 2007 Masters Aftermath

[Thrash13]

With The Masters now in the rear-view mirror, I decided to take one last look at things from the season's first major. This week's Thrash Talk is based on some of the week's most interesting storylines, in my opinion of course. Here are a couple questions to get you started, but be sure to read the entire article in the morning. I figure it will stir up a little controversy as usual.

1. What Grade Would You Give The 2007 Masters?

2. What Was Your Favorite Storyline From This Year's Masters When The Dust Had Settled?

Thanks everyone.

[gt6974a]

I actually watched more than I usually do. I streamed Amen Corner while I was at work on Thursday.

[iacas]

1. What Grade Would You Give The 2007 Masters?

C-, about the same as Tiger's game that week. It wasn't because of the weather (oh boo hoo, it was 50 degrees), but simply the course. Augusta National was not set up to host The Masters this year - and we're finally seeing what a mess the changes they've made over the past few years have brought. The course does not need trees and rough to defend itself. Again, I'll cite the approach into 11. Nobody in their right mind wants to approach that hole from the right side of the "old" fairway. But now there are trees there, all but eliminating the brave/stupid/great "recovery" shot from the right side. Augusta's protection was and always should be its greens and the angles into them, NOT trees, rough, making things rock-hard, or hoping you get chill temps and/or wind.

2. What Was Your Favorite Storyline From This Year's Masters When The Dust Had Settled?

A good guy winning. Tiger losing is a bad storyline. The course winning is a bad storyline.

[InTheTwenties]

The big story line is that there is no big story line. The anticipated showdown of the century Phil versus Tiger didn't materialez.

About the only story is that the winner played a charmed round. He clearly has faith, and it worked. Especially when Tigers' shot on the 17th (?) went into the water, because of a magical gust of wind, taking him out of contention. Or when Tiger's Tee off was interupted by a bird flying over his ball.

No doubt the winner played a fine round, and deserves the green jacket, but a little help from above never hurt.

PS. I think I'll light a candle before my next round.

[jorruss]

With The Masters now in the rear-view mirror, I decided to take one last look at things from the season's first major. This week's Thrash Talk is based on some of the week's most interesting storylines, in my opinion of course. Here are a couple questions to get you started, but be sure to read the entire article in the morning. I figure it will stir up a little controversy as usual.

I would give this year's Masters a grade of B minus. The tournament comitee tryed to make it a bit tougher for the players, and they actually had the course set up perfect, if not for the weather. If you took away the cold and wind, the course was set up very fair. The CBS coverage was of course locked on Tiger as usual, and all but ignored Zack until he got into the lead on the back nine. Shameful. I guess they thought the masses would rather watch Tiger struggle with his game than watch a "no-name". Oh well. I think the best storyline was the fact that a good player that was not well known came through in tough conditions to beat the best players in the world. he may not be the longest hitter, or the best putter, or have the best short game, and he may not win another major, but last week he was the best and nobody can ever take it away from him. The dumbest question of the week came in an interview with Phil about whether the collapse and Winged Foot had anything to do with his performance in the final round here. I don't see how it could have, and Phil didnt see the correlation either. He has already proven that he can win since the Open. Non issue.

[jorruss]

The big story line is that there is no big story line. The anticipated showdown of the century Phil versus Tiger didn't materialez.

So you are saying that God pushed Tiger's ball into the water, and caused Phil's ball to hit the lip on the first hole? That's not a very Christain thing to say.

[iacas]

I would give this year's Masters a grade of B minus. The tournament comitee tryed to make it a bit tougher for the players, and they actually had the course set up perfect, if not for the weather.

The Masters has been played at the same time of year for a looooong time. This was the highest scoring Masters since (IIRC) 1956.

They've had weather this bad and worse - remember the time they got hail? - and scores were still lower and the tournament more exciting. Blaming the "weather" was, for some players, golferspeak so they didn't have to blame Augusta. Furthermore, the weather conditions were known all week long, ahead of time. Why did they only water the greens Sunday to help balls hold? And even then we only got 69s as the low round. The "weather" excuse is going too far, IMHO.

The dumbest question of the week came in an interview with Phil about whether the collapse and Winged Foot had anything to do with his performance in the final round here. I don't see how it could have, and Phil didnt see the correlation either. He has already proven that he can win since the Open. Non issue.

He hasn't proven he can win a major or play in the big events. Phil's not exactly been playing great golf since Winged Foot. That includes the Ryder Cup.

So, a very loose correlation, but if Phil never again wins a major - how much of that do you attribute to Winged Foot? He was going for 3 in a row, remember? It's not like he's won 3 spaced out over 20 years. He won 'em in the span of two years. He was HOT, and now he's not. Ever since...

[jorruss]

The Masters has been played at the same time of year for a looooong time. This was the highest scoring Masters since (IIRC) 1956.

Phil was most definitely affected by the loss and Winged Foot, but every good player that has been in that position has lost one. Jack Nicklaus won 18 professional majors. He finished second 19 more times, and third nine times. In all, Nicklaus posted 48 Top 3 finishes, 56 Top 5 finishes and 73 Top 10 finishes.That's a pretty good record don't you think? I guess we'll have to see how Phil ends up doing from here on out. Personally, I don't think his performance at the Masters had anything to do with Winged Foot. He was playing a different course, different weather, and was not in the lead to start the day or ever in a position to give it away. I think Augusta wanted to try making the course play hard and fast to change things up and "protect the course". The weather was also a contributing factor to the high scores, not simply an excuse. I think the reason Augusta will go back to the old formula for next year is the fan (Sorry - patron) factor. People want to see birdies and eagles on the back nine on Sunday. It adds to the drama and the dynamics of the round. Everybody wants to feel the excitement of Players hearing roars from all over the course, wondering who just made birdie. It makes the television viewing more exciting also...

[iacas]

I guess we'll have to see how Phil ends up doing from here on out.

To clarify the above, I don't think it has much effect either. Perhaps if Phil steps on the tee of the 18th hole with a one-shot lead in a major, we'll see - but never being in contention? That's not related.

But I can understand why the press would ask, and why some people might think it still affects him. I chalk this Masters up to two things for Phil: a) He wasn't on his game. He's streaky. This was a down cycle. b) He's in between, possibly, instructors. Too much input right now is leading to (a).

[jorruss]

To clarify the above, I don't think it has much effect either. Perhaps if Phil steps on the tee of the 18th hole with a one-shot lead in a major, we'll see - but never being in contention? That's not related.

When you factor in everything that is going against you in this game, to play well when you are supposed to play well is increasingly difficult. He said it best during that same interview when he said that he feels confident here, having won before, and it's not at all like a US Open. I hope he finds himself standing on the tee this year at the 72nd hole with a 1 shot lead and pures it right down the middle and wins. That would put this issue to rest for good. I certainly hope he doesn't get rid of Rick Smith. Smith had a big part in Phil's 3 major wins so far, and I don't think he can do any better with another instructor. Phil is very much a classic "feel" style player, and Rich Smith understands this and makes subtle adjustments to fit into that mentality. I think with Dave Pelz, they make a great team. I wish I could afford them!

[ezmoney5150]

I gave it a B. I know thats not how Augusta National is supposed to be set up, but I'm a big fan of the US Open and watching players struggle to get the ball up and down.

[Puttin4Bird]

A-/B+

I loved it, I think that having an unknown player (by casual fans standards) win is not the worst thing for the Masters. Typically the leader board at Augusta is chalked full of big time names and this year was no different, it's just that Tiger, Phil, or Vijay etc. didn't win this time around. I think the way Zach stuck to his game plan and just continued to execute down the stretch was great! Another thing I thought was great is that that outcome was not certain clear til the end, sure once Woods took the lead on his own everyone thought he'd hold on and par it in to his 5th Masters, but that didn't happen! He made it interesting, that eagle on 13 was one for the storybooks, the shot into the water on 15 was just as dramatic.

Storyline:
I think the overwhelming storyline that everyone will keep bringing up was how difficult the course played. Even listening to the players talk though, it was fair. It's not like it was a remake of the US Open at couple years back (Shinnecock maybe) where all the players were vocal about how far overboard the USGA went with the setup. Finally the green jackets got the course to play firm and fast after their lengthening, I'm sure we have seen the last of the major renovations to add length and make the course play more difficult. So the winning score wasn't -20 and there were no players shooting 59 this time around, so what!?

Anyone who says this year's Masters was boring is probably just upset because one of the biggest names didn't win it. Replace Zach Johnson's name with Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Ernie Els holding off Tiger down the stretch and they will likely say they loved it.

[jorruss]

With all the talk about "Tiger-Proofing" golf courses and making them longer to the point where the shorter hitters cannot reach the 500 yard par 4s and 600 yard par 5s, I think it's refreshing to see that Harbor Town, where the tour is this week, is 6800 yards and defending itself just fine. Yeah, there are some low scores, but with it's small greens and tight layout, if you hit the ball in play and putt well you should be rewarded.

Augusta did something that was not talked about much, but I think should be done more often. Instead of simply lengthening the course, grow the fairway grass a bit longer to limit the roll on tee shots. This essentially lengthens the course without adding length to the scorecard.

I would also propse tightening the fairways just a bit at 300+ yards to maybe 20 yards wide instead of 35 to 40, and use rakes with every other tine removed in the bunkers to make it tougher to rake to perfection, and sand traps might play like hazards again. I don't think you need to simpy add length to make a course tougher.